TNAG-1393-FCO40-1865-Future-of-Hong-Kong-briefing-for-meetings-and-visits-1985 — Page 6

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review, but suggested that press reports of demands for a wide

variety of constitutional changes we re causing anxieties amongst some Chinese

some Chinese leaders, and suggested that we should slow things down. Ji did not make any commitments but he adopted a moderate attitude, and hopefully this meeting will represent

the first steps in an informal dialogue.

I attach the

Governor's telegrams reporting the meeting.

Constitutional Development

4.

I have arranged a meeting with the Secretary of State on 20 December at 1130 for a general discussion on constitutional development

light of the Joint Liaison Group meeting in

Peking.

in

Basic Law Consultative Committee

5.

The members of the Executive of the Basic Law

Consultative Committee and its office holders have been

selected. The Executive wa s elected in accordance with the

constitution of the BLCC, but the office holders we re named

from on high rather than elected. Following considerable

controversy about the constitutionality of this

Executive wa s reconvened and the same office holders formally elected. A typical Chinese muddle.

Nationality

6.

step, the

The Parliamentary debate on the Hong Kong nationality

Order in Council has been put off until early January. The

order wa s debated by Lego on 4 December, and Unofficial members made a number of proposals with which we will have

deal in the Parliamentary debate.

to

16 December 1985

рейный

A C Galsworthy

Hong Kong Department

CONFIDENTIAL